Friedrich Gulda plays Beethoven's Diabelli Variations

Posted by: graham55 on 08 November 2009

I'd always believed the story that Beethoven despised the commission to contribute one walz to Anton Diabelli's piece. As he thought that it was a piece of cr*p.

But, thereafter, he took his revenge by writing an astonishingly profound set of Variations on Diabelli's ridiculous walz. And, for the last 30 years or so, I've been listening to profound recordings of the incomparable Diabelli Variations, by pianists of the stature of Kovacevich, Richter, et al, who point out the monumentality of Beethoven's last solo piano work.

But today, I've got Friedrich Gulda's recording, which, I think, takes it back to Diabelli's original joke. All the notes are there, f*ck me they are, but this is sheer pianistic joy and playfulness. I'm not sure that I've ever heard anything like it!

Was dear old Ludwig smiling, after all, as he went to his grave?

A quite sensational CD!
Posted on: 09 November 2009 by Oldnslow
Graham---what CD reissue are you referring to for the Gulda? Is it the old MPS release or some other performance? Gulda's Beethoven sonatas are great and I would like to pick up the Diabelli Variations too.
Posted on: 09 November 2009 by graham55
Hi, it's a brand new release on the Polygram 'eloquence' label: catalogue number is 480 1835. Available from amazon.de.

I don't think that it was ever a major label release. The original recording was made in 1968 (perhaps by MPS) but, like so much of Gulda's work, it seems to have disappeared under the critical radar.

And I feel like a bit of an archaeologist trying to dig out those nuggets. Next stop will be the MPS re-release of Bach's Well Tempered Klavier
Posted on: 09 November 2009 by cdboy
Graham55. Excellent post. I love it when another must hear is added to the list! Thanks
Posted on: 10 November 2009 by Oldnslow
Decided to hold off on the Gulda, as Amazon.de wants damn near $20 to ship it to the U.S. You folks have it good in the EU.....hehehe
Posted on: 10 November 2009 by Todd A
Excellent news - I've never seen a Gulda Diabelli. Now I must have it. If it's even half as good as his Amadeo cycle, it will be one of the better Diabellis out there.

(And speaking of the Diabellis, I'm going to hear Anton Kuerti perform them in recital next February.)


--
Posted on: 10 November 2009 by pe-zulu
quote:
Originally posted by graham55:

I don't think that it was ever a major label release. The original recording was made in 1968 (perhaps by MPS) but, like so much of Gulda's work, it seems to have disappeared under the critical radar.



Probably the very recording Harmonia Mundi France released about 15 years ago. However despite an almost unlimited affection for LvB´s works, I never quite understood the Diabelli variations and parted with this recording some years ago.
Posted on: 11 November 2009 by Oldnslow
Todd--if you find a source for the Gulda at a reasonable price, please let us know